The Waverley novels, by Sir Walter Scott, complete in 12 vol., printed from the latest English ed., embracing the author's last corrections, prefaces & notes.

'PEVERIL OF THE PEAK. 465
meanest and most worthless in the creation; yet it is received by the credulous people of England with the most undoubting belief."
"This is a singular delusion, to rise without some real ground," answered
Julian.
"I am no bigot, cousin, though a Catholic," replied the Countess. "I
have long feared that the well-meant zeal of our priests for increasing converts, would draw on them the suspicion of the English nation. These
efforts have been renewed with double energy since the Duke of York conformed to the Catholic faith; and the same event has doubled the hate and
jealousy of the Protestants. So far, I fear, there may be just cause for
suspicion, that the Duke is a better Catholic than an Englishman, and that
bigotry has involved him, as avarice, or the needy greed of a prodigal, has
engaged his brother, in relations with France, whereof England may have
too much reason to complain. But the gross, thick, and palpable fabrications of conspiracy and murder, blood and fire-the imaginary armies-the
intended massacres- form a collection of falsehoods, that one would have
thought indigestible, even by the coarse appetite of the vulgar for the mar-.
vellous and horrible; but which are, nevertheless, received as truth by both
Houses of Parliament, and questioned by no one who is desirous to escape
the odious appellation of friend to the bloody Papists, and favourer of their
infernal schemes of cruelty."
"But what say those who are most likely to be affected by these wild
reports?" said Julian. " What say the English Catholics themselves? - a
numerous and wealthy body, comprising so many noble names?"
"Their hearts are dead within them," said the Countess. "They are
like sheep penned up in the shambles, that the butcher may take his choice
among them. In the obscure and brief communications which I have had
by a secure hand, they do but anticipate their own utter ruin, and ours —
so general is the depression, so universal the despair."
" But the King," said Peveril, - " the King and the Protestant royalists
-what say they to this glowing tempest?"
"Charles," replied the Countess, " with his usual selfish prudence, truckles
to the storm; and will let cord and axe do their work on the most innocent
men in his dominions, rather than lose an hour of pleasure in attempting
their rescue. And, for the royalists, either they have caught the general
delirium which has seized on Protestants in general, or they stand aloof and
neutral, afraid to show any interest in the unhappy Catholics, lest they be
judged altogether such as themselves, and abettors of the fearful conspiracy
-in which they are alleged to be engaged. In fact, I cannot blame them. It
is hard to expect that mere compassion for a persecuted sect-or, what is
yet more rare, an abstract love of justice - should be powerful enough to
engage men to expose themselves to the awakened fury of a whole people;
for, in the present state of general agitation, whoever disbelieves the least
tittle of the enormous improbabilities which have been accumulated by these
wretched reformers, is instantly hunted down, as one who would smother
the discovery of the Plot. It is indeed an awful tempest; and, remote as
we lie from its sphere, we must expect soon to feel its effects."
" Lord Derby already told me something of this," said Julian; " and that
there were agents in this island whose object was to excite insurrection."
"Yes," answered the Countess, and her eye flashed fire as she spoke;
" and had my advice been listened to, they had been apprehended in the
very fact; and so dealt with, as to be a warning to all others how they
sought this independent principality on such an errand. But my son, who
is generally so culpably negligent of his own affairs, was pleased to assume
the management of them upon this crisis."
"I am happy to learn, madamn," answered Peveril, " that the measures
of precaution which my kinsman has adopted, have had the complete effect
of disconcerting the conspiracy."